Omega 3 Is Essential to Good Brain Health. You Don't Need Brain Exercises

If you're getting older and worried about your brain health you're not alone. So many people, as they get older, start to realise that their memory isn't as good as it used to be and they don't seem to think as clearly.
Hence the proliferation of websites offering various games, tests and puzzles all designed to help exercise your memory and brain. How boring it is to spend a half hour or an hour every day doing brain exercises.
However it would seem that exercises are not the only way to improve your brain health. There is a growing body of evidence that a low level of Omega 3 in your system contributes to poorer brain function and memory.
In fact the growing scientific data supports conclusions that low levels of Omega 3 in your system can increase the incidence of depression, increase the likelihood of mood disorders, reduce your memory and even age your brain faster.
As much as it seems unlikely, there is now solid scientific evidence that the Omega 3 essential fatty acids are extremely important to overall brain health.
The Omega 3 fatty acids are found primarily, though not exclusively, in fish. The 2 most important of these fats are DHA and EPA.
Unlike most fat, which is considered to be unhealthy, particularly saturated fat, Omega 3 fats are healthy fats, in fact evidence is mounting that they are not only healthy but crucial to a wide range of health conditions.
There's many studies linking Omega 3 with good brain health. The most recent of these, published in the journal Neurology, in February 2012, looked at 1575 people, with an average age of 67, and no evidence of dementia.
The levels of Omega 3 in their blood were measured, and they were given various exercises and tests to perform to measure memory and cognitive performance.
And it was discovered that the people who had the lowest levels of Omega 3 in their blood also exhibited the lowest levels of memory and cognitive performance. Not only that but they also exhibited slightly smaller brains, in fact it was estimated that their brain showed evidence that they had aged more than the brains of people with much higher levels of Omega 3 in the blood.
Whilst there is much more work to do about the link between Omega 3 and brain health, intuitively these conclusions make sense, because the brain is made up largely of fat, and a large proportion of that is DHA, the most important of the Omega 3 fats.
Science, over the last 30 or 40 years, is beginning to understand that an adequate intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA is a huge part of maintaining good health, not just your brain but your heart and cardio vascular system as well as being important for maintaining good health generally.
As DHA and EPA are found in greatest proportions in fish it never hurts to eat more fish, though fish is getting more expensive and some of it is now contaminated, leading to warnings by the government.
Most people prefer to improve their DHA and EPA intake using fish oil supplements, which is a cost-effective and simple way of getting Omega 3 fats in your diet every day.
Find out more about the link between Omega 3 and brain health and to find out more about how to choose between all the available brands of Omega 3 supplements on the market, and which supplements I have chosen to take myself.
By all means keep up the brain exercises, if you can. If you love chess that's great. But I certainly got tired of the exercises very quickly.

You Need Omega 3 Fats for Eye Health, Especially If You Have Retinitis Pigmentosa

It has long been known that an adequate supply of the Omega 3 fats is good for you, reducing your risk of heart attack, and therefore death, as well as helping improve a whole range of health conditions.
In fact it seems that there are powerful reasons why those of us whose diets are deficient in the Omega 3 fats should be eating a diet higher in Omega 3, or taking fish oil supplements.
However we don't immediately associate increasing your Omega 3 intake with eye health. And yet there is ample evidence that plenty of the Omega 3 fats DHA and EPA is important to the health of your eyes from the start of your life right through to the end.
In fact the retinas in your eyes have a significant amount of Omega 3 fats in them, and is now being understood that, from early on in life, infants should have a sufficient supply of Omega 3 fats in their diet as this helps with the development of infant visual accuity.
It is also now established that increasing the amount of Omega 3 in the diet can help older people who may be suffering, or who may well start suffering from macular degeneration which is a condition of the eyes which affects older people. It is in fact the leading cause of blindness in older people in the US.
So it comes as no surprise that there is now evidence that other eye diseases may also benefit from more essential fatty acids. One of these is a disease of the eyes called Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a relatively uncommon, and hereditary eye disease which affects around one in 4000 people. It has a range of symptoms, which often become apparent in early life, including night blindness, tunnel vision and blindness for some.
There is no current cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa.
However 3 studies are now establishing that increasing your intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, in conjunction with an increased intake of vitamin A, may help slow the visual deterioration which results from having Retinitis Pigmentosa.
This is excellent news for those who suffer from this eye disease. It is certainly not a cure, however where a cure is not available it is better to slow the progression of a disease than not.
So it's quite clear that increasing your intake of the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, either through eating foods rich in Omega 3 such as fish, or more commonly through taking fish oil supplements, will not only help your heart, and a range of other parts of your body, it is also good for your eyes.
Visit my website to find more about the health benefits of Omega 3.

Eat More Sardines. There's Lots Of Reasons To Eat Them

Sardines are fish that are small. That's just small in size, not small in nutrition. In fact the health benefits of sardines are greater than their size.
Sardines are a small school fish which live in many of our oceans, and they are caught in their millions. Most people eat canned sardines, and in fact sardines were the first fish ever to be canned. However many people also eat sardines fresh.
Of course eating sardines is just wonderful for the taste. Sardines are extremely yummy, however sardines are nutritious too.
You've probably heard of the health benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids. The Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fats, meaning that they are essential to the proper functioning of your body. Sardines are extremely high in the Omega 3 fatty acids.
The health benefits of the Omega 3 fats are numerous, and include a reduction in your risk of dying from heart attack as well as many other cardiovascular benefits, and improvement to mental function, just to mention a few.
In fact sardines have more Omega 3, pound for pound, than just about any other fish in the ocean.
But the health benefits of sardines just start with the Omega 3 fatty acids. Sardines are also packed with a wide range of other nutrients.
Calcium for example, which is extremely important for your bones, good nerve function and more. Or how about potassium, or phosphorus. Sardines are high in protein too.
And then there's the vitamins. These include vitamins D and E as well as vitamin B-12, in which they are very high. Vitamin B-12 is very important to the proper functioning of your immune system and central nervous system.
Then there's your skin. Sardines are high in antioxidants, which benefit the health of your skin, and the Omega 3 essential fatty acids are also extremely good for your skin, particularly for maintaining skin moisture.
Overall the most important health benefit of eating sardines is for the Omega 3 fatty acids. Science is discovering that most of us are deficient in these important fats, and increasing your intake can do wonders for your health.
So eat lots of sardines, canned or fresh, for all those good nutrients in sardines.
But to get the maximum amount of benefit from increasing your intake of Omega 3 fats take high quality Omega 3 supplements every day. That is unless you're likely to be eating a can of sardines every day.
Note that not all Omega 3 supplements are high quality. Visit my website to find out which are.

If You Take Omega 3 Supplements You Must Read This

Omega 3 supplements are big business, and it is now estimated that sales of various Omega 3 products run into the billions of dollars. And for extremely powerful reasons. Taking high quality fish oil supplements containing DHA and EPA may well be one of the best things that you can do for your health.
Many health conditions can benefit from increasing your intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids, from birth, or even before, right through into older age. That's why a whole range of Omega 3 products have now, over the last decade or so, become available.
And that's why the sales of products which have DHA and EPA, the major Omega 3 essential fatty acids, have exploded.
Many people, including me, have taken fish oil supplements for many years, and intend to do so for the rest of their life.
But they may not be able to.
Yes, there is a powerful reason why you, myself and everyone else may not be able to take Omega 3 fish oil supplements for the rest of our lives.
The reason is this. The pharmaceutical industry is an immensely powerful and profitable industry. It has been both powerful and profitable for many decades, and its tentacles reach right into government.
And the tentacles of the pharmaceutical industry also reach into the FDA.
The FDA, with the support of the pharmaceutical industry, now proposes a range of actions which, if they are allowed to take them, will make virtually all nutritional supplements, including Omega 3 supplements, illegal.
Yes that's right. Most nutritional supplements will no longer be marketed to anyone in the US if the FDA is allowed to get its way. You will no longer be able to buy your Omega 3 supplements.
Of course the pharmaceutical industry will be able to produce similar products, and in fact they already do. At about 10 times the price.
This is an outrage. This is an assault on the right of people to choose how they manage their health. It is an attempt by the pharmaceutical industry to drive their competitors out of business.
Whilst you may only be an individual, and you do not have the power of the pharmaceutical industry, if enough individuals protest their voice will be heard.
To find out more about this visit my website and add your voice to the growing protest.

Fish Is Contaminated. So Should You Eat Fish?

It is becoming common knowledge that most of the fish in our oceans are contaminated to some degree with Mercury, PCBs and more. Given this, is fish good for you?
There are some important nutrients in fish, probably the most important is what I call the Omega 3 essential fatty acids. These are important fats which your body cannot produce itself, which must come from your diet, and which are essential to good health. The evidence is now showing that most of us are lacking in the Omega 3 fats.
But the nutrients in fish aren't just limited to the Omega 3 fats. Fish is extremely nutritious for a number of other reasons.
Protein is essential for good health. A large part of our body is made up of protein, it exists in every cell in our body. Protein is essential for the repair of damaged muscles, makes up a large percentage of our nails and hair as well as our bones and skin.
Fish is very high in protein, around 15 to 20 percent protein in fact.
It is also well-known that red meat is high in protein. However red meat comes with saturated fat, which clogs your arteries whereas the fat in fish is unsaturated.
There are more nutrients in fish than just protein and the Omega 3 fats. Micronutrients include iodine, phosphorus and calcium and there are also good supplies of vitamins A and D.
And in a world obsessed with losing weight it's good to know that fish has no carbohydrate. It's easy to digest too. On top of that it's yummy.
Reading all that you would think that fish was the perfect food. Apart from one tiny thing. According to various sources including our own government fish is contaminated with toxins like Mercury and PCBs. And we are warned, particularly if we are a pregnant woman, not to eat too much and to only eat certain types.
Yuk. Surely then we should all be avoiding fish. Given all this, is fish good for you or should it be avoided altogether?
There's no doubt contamination is a concern, however if you're prudent, choose the right fish and don't eat lots there is no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of all of the good nutrients found in fish. Our government tells us that two fish meals a week is healthy, and there is no reason to think this isn't true.
In fact research has shown over the last couple of decades that eating too little fish has exposed most of us to a wide range of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease. Not eating fish may be far more dangerous than eating it.
Don't eat fish every night. Be careful with the type you eat, some fish is more contaminated than others. And cook it the right way. You can find out more about all of these on my website.
But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Don't stop eating fish, it's good for you.
But do make sure that you take clean high quality Omega 3 capsules every single day. To find out more about these visit my website all about the health benefits of Omega 3 fish oil.

There's A Range Of Sources Of Omega 3 Fats. Which Ones Suit You?|

There's a range of sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids available for anyone who is interested in increasing their intake of the Omega 3 fats. For anyone not yet familiar with the Omega 3 essential fatty acids these are important fats that your body cannot do without.
Over the last few decades research has shown that most of us in the US eat too little of the Omega 3 fats, and this is having a negative health impacts, and many scientists consider that this is contributing to the rise of some lifestyle diseases, particularly heart disease.
And unfortunately your body is unable to produce Omega 3 fatty acids itself, and so your only source is found in your diet.
The principal source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids is fish. Fish, and in particular the oil from fish, is very high in the Omega 3 fats and is in fact the best source of Omega 3. But not the only one.
There's a range of other Omega 3 sources available, and vegetarians and vegans who do not eat fish may well need to find another source.
It's perfectly possible to find a range of Omega 3 food sources. Unfortunately most of them are relatively low in those all-important essential fatty acids.
50 or more years ago beef and eggs in particular were higher in Omega3, however modern farming practices, and in particular the trend towards feeding our cattle and chickens with grain and corn has led to a significant reduction in the amount of the Omega 3 fats found in beef and eggs.
There's a range of other Omega 3 sources as well, mainly plant-based. Flax, chia and some other seeds contain these fatty acids, as well as various nuts and vegetables. However many people are less aware that there are different types of Omega 3 fats, and one of the less important types, called ALA, is the type found in plant based sources.
DHA and EPA are the most important Omega 3 fats, it is these which are found in beef and eggs as well as fish.
Of course the best Omega 3 source is fish oil supplements. These are small capsules containing fish oil, and do not have any of the downsides of eating fish. Unfortunately fish is very expensive, and it is difficult to get children to eat fish, and so taking fish oil capsules is cost-effective and simpler.
So if you're looking for different sources of Omega 3 fatty acids we hope that this has enlightened you a little more on what to look for. Don't rely on beef and eggs for significant amounts of DHA and EPA, don't rely on plant based sources for any DHA and EPA and choose a high quality brand of fish oil supplements to take daily.
Note that not all fish oil supplements are high quality. To find out which are visit my website.

Take Omega 3 Supplements For Better Brain Health. Your Brain Will Thank You

Many people are aware of the health benefits of increasing your intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA. But fewer people are aware of the strong links between Omega 3 and brain function, or in other words how to improve brain function and memory, combat ADD or ADHD or improve emotional disorders like depression.
Many scientists consider that the crucial link between early human beings like the Neanderthal, and modern human beings was the point at which we began to eat seafood.
Seafood, and particularly oily fish, contains the Omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, DHA being the most important of these.
Your brain is about 60 percent fat, and DHA is the most important of those fats. An adequate supply of DHA is one of the most crucial factors in facilitating the transmission of brain signals. But if your brain doesn't have enough DHA it won't work as well.
When the early human beings began eating seafood their brains began to develop because of the increase in intake of DHA. Neanderthals, for example, primarily ate red meat, which supplied very little DHA. But when the early humans began eating seafood their brains began to develop, according to hypotheses, as a result of this intake of DHA from fish.
But if plenty of DHA is important for brain development surely a lack of DHA will inhibit brain function? And evidence showing that this is the case.
Scientific evidence showing that an ample supply of DHA to the brain improves cognitive ability, improves memory, improves mental development in children, helps improve learning difficulties such as ADD and ADHD and can also help improve outcomes with emotional problems such as depression.
In fact many medical professionals are now suggesting that one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do is to maintain an adequate supply of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids in her diet because of the strong links between Omega 3 and brain development in the infant.
(Not to mention the benefits for the mothers own health).
So whilst many people focus on the general health benefits of taking Omega 3 supplements, for example the reduction in your risk of dying from heart attack, the health benefits to your brain may be as significant or even more so.
And it doesn't just apply to the young. There is also increasing evidence that plenty of Omega 3 in the diet can help the brain function of the elderly by reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
So next time you're wondering where you put the car keys, try and remember to write a simple notation on your next shopping list.
Buy Omega 3 supplements. And of course remember to take them every day. Your brain will thank you for it.
And to view two fascinating videos about the role of Omega 3 in brain development for children with learning difficulties visit my main website.